I'm just looking for some last minute advice on buying a used car. I have filtered down my options to one of these three: Ford Focus/ VW Golf/ Toyota Corolla

I'm looking for a small reliable car with the general specs for each of above:

- Hatchback
- something between 2002 to 2005
-1.3 to 1.6 Engine Size
-Petrol/Diesal
- 3 door
- reasonable for the year millage on or under the 100k miles mark

If you are a mechanic or have experience with these cars in particular could you give me a few words on anything you have found with them, primarily:

-reliable
-availability of parts
-known issues with that make/year
-what to look out for when viewing the car
- what I should be looking to pay roughly

My budget is between 2,500 and 3,500. I am just looking for a reliable A to B car to make a few runs around the city in the evenings and the odd long journey to the west. I had a Peugot Partner and it was endless trouble and a general pain in the arse.

VVTi engines 1.6 and 1.8 not sure about 1.4 have a design fault with the pistons overheating causing them to burn oil after about 60,000 mile. There is an extended secret warranty for 7 years with conditions. this was not fixed until mis 2005. the old model Corolla and Avensis are OK

Not all of the VVTIs burnt oil.
We have an original 2000 1.4 4ZZ-FE and its been fine from the start.
106k miles on it now and it burns no oil.
It never had the replacement short block either.
IIRC the 1.8 was much more prone to the oil problem.
Strange really because they are all the same block, the only big mechanical difference between the 1.4/1.6/1.8 is the crank and pistons/rods.

OP The Corolla would be the better in that class, when you say " I am just looking for a reliable A to B car to make a few runs around the city in the evenings and the odd long journey to the west."

Plenty of parts available.
Good power for a 1.4 and pretty good economy as well.